Motorized railway car truck



June 23, 1970 R. L. L lcH MOIORIZED RAILWAY CAR TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet lFiled March 27, 1968 ".IIIJZ Crll L. L w mi m r @M P .FIG.3

June 23, 1970 R, 1 |CH- 3,516,365

MOTORIZED RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed March 2'?, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June23, 1970 R. L. LlcH MOTORIZED RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed March 27, 1968 4Sheets-Sheff:l 3

l- ZL- FIGB June 23, 1970 R. L. I lcH MOTORIZED RAILWAY CAR TRUCK 4Sheets-Sheet L Filed March 27, 1968 FIG.II

United States Patent O 3,516,365 MOTORIZED RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Richard L.Lich, Town and Country, Mo., assignor to General Steel Industries, Inc.,Granite City, Ill. a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 27, 1968, Ser.No. 716,404 Int. Cl. 361e 9/50; Blf 3/01.l

U.S. Cl. 105 133 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE FIELD OF THEINVENTION The invention relates to railway rolling stock and consistsparticularly in a two-axle railway vehicle truck of the type in which abolster, mounting body-support springs, is swivelly supported on truckframing carried by the axles.

DESCRIPTION `OF THE PRIOR ART In railway trucks of the type in which thebolster is swivelly supported on the truck frame and mounts bodysupportsprings, the bolster is usually supported at the center of the frame bya pivot bearing, as for example, in U.S. Pat. 2,877,719, and the framehas pedestal jaws at its corners to receive the axle boxes and issupported on springs Carried by the axle boxes or by equalizing barsseated on the axle boxes. This construction requires a heavy transverseframe member because of the high bending moment caused by the centralsupport thereon of the bolster, and the -weight of the frame is alsoincreased by the use of pedestal jaws to position the axle boxes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a very light weight, yetpositively trammed and fully equalized truck suitable for high speedpassenger service, by mounting separate side frames directly on the axleboxes, resiliently supporting a pair of transverse members each at theiropposite ends from one of the side frames, forming each of thetransverse members with a concave vertical pivot element at its center,

supporting a transverse bolster on the side frames and matinglyinserting a pivot boss depending from the center of the bolster in theconcave pivot elements of the transverse members to tix the latteragainst movement transversely of the truck with respect to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of oneembodiment of the invention, horizontally sectionalized along line 1 1of FIG. 3.

3,5%,355 Patented .lune 23, 1970 ice FIG. 2 is a side elevation viewpartially longitudinally vertically sectionalized along line 2 2 of FIG.l.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view along line 4 4 of FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view along line6 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 7 7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view along line 88 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. l0 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line N ltl of FIG.9.

FIG. ll is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. l2 is a transverse vertical sectional view along line 12-12 of FIG.11.

In FIGS. 1 4, the numeral ll refers to flanged railway wheels, mountedin spaced pairs on the ends of spaced axles 3 and 5. Axles 3 and 5rotatably mount journal boxes 7 inwardly of wheels 1. Journal boxes 7are surrounded by elastomeric bushings 9. Transversely spaced,longitudinally extending side frames 11 are supported on the axles attheir ends, which are formed with channel section semicircular apertures13, into which bushings 9 and journal boxes 7 are locked by semicircularend clamps 1S of similar cross section.

Side frames 11 are of truss configuration having vertically spaced topchords 17 and bottom chords 19 merging at their ends and connectedintermediate their ends by upright columns 21, 23 and 2l arrangedsymmetrically lengthwise of the side frame.

For tying side frames 11 together, maintaining them in tram, andproviding a swivel center for the truck, while permitting unobstructedlimited tilting of the side frames longitudinally of the truck, a pairof longitudinally spaced transverse members, or cross-ties 25, 25 formedwith short end portions `27 extending outwardly longitudinally of thetruck are individually connected by the latter to side frame columns 21.To effect the last-named connection, each of the side frame columns 21includes inner and outer longitudinal vertical webs 29 and 31, bothtransversely perforated at 33 to receive a pin 35, and each end portion27 of cross-ties 25 is formed with a transverse cylindrical aperture 37substantially larger than pin 35. To provide for limited pivotalmovement of each cross-tie end 27 with respect to the side frames, `abushing assembly comprising an elastomeric bushing 39 with a metalsleeve lll is press-litted into aperture 37, surrounding pin 35, whichupon insertion through the aligned side frame perforations 33 and thebushing aperture, is suitably retained in place by a cotter pin 43.

The central portions of cross-ties 25 are formed with opposingprojections 45 extending toward each other longitudinally of the truckwith their transverse faces i6 spaced slightly from each other and eachof the projections has, in its transverse face 4,6, a vertical,semicylindrical recess 47, recesses 47 being coaxial with each other andcooperating to pivotally receive a vertical cylindrical boss 49depending from the center of bolster 51. To permit cross-tie 25 to tilttransversely of the truck with respect to each other, as required by thedifferential longitudinal tilting of side frames 11, boss 49 is ofsubstantially less diameter than recesses 47 and pivotally fits into acylindrical bearing sleeve 53, between which and the walls of recesses47 is positioned an elastomeric bushing 55 outwardly anged along its topand bottom margins to fit closely on projections `45. The upper marginof sleeve 53 is also outwardly flanged at 57 to support the sleeve onthe upper surface of bushing 55. For preventing vertical separation ofbolster boss 49 from recesses 47, a center pin 59 depends from thebolster through boss 49 and supports, on its lower end projectingtherefrom a retainer disk 61 which underlies cross-tie projections 45and is spaced vertically from the bottom thereof to avoid interferencewith the differential tilting movements of the two cross-ties 25.

Bolster 51 extends transversely in both directions from boss 49, acrossside frames 11, on the top chords of which it is supported by downwardlyfacing side bearings 63, slidably resting on upwardly facing sidebearing plates 65 carried by resilient pads 67 on the side frame topchords. With this arrangement, the bolster load is transmitted directlyinto the side frames and thence to the axles, freeing cross-ties 2S ofany vertical load and permitting them to be of correspondingly lightconstruction. The resilient pads 67 provide continuous vertical supportof the bolster without interference by it with the necessary equalizingtilting movement of the side frames lengthwise of the truck.

At its ends, outboard of the side frames, bolster 51 mounts uprightexible-wall pneumatic springs 69 on which vehicle body underframe U issupported for limited vertical and lateral movement with respect tobolster 51. For transmitting longitudinal draft and braking forcesbetween the truck and vehicle body, transverse plate-like brackets 71and 73 depend from the bolster ends and from the underframe respectivelyat both sides of the truck and are connected to each other bylongitudinally extending anchor links 75, which are arranged for limiteduniversal pivoting about their end connections, to freely accommodatethe relative vertical and lateral movements of the underframe and thetruck.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that, as viewed inplan, bolster boss 49 and the connections at 33 between cross-ties 25and side frames 11 define a nondeformable figure, whereby the sideframes are continually maintained in perpendicular relation with theaxles; i.e., the truck is maintained in tram.

The truck may include, in the spaces between axles 3 and and theadjacent cross-ties 25, traction motors M drivingly connected to 'andsupported on the adjacent axles by gear boxes G and associated bearings.For supporting the sides of motors M remote from axles 3 and 5,cross-ties 25 constituting a transom are provided With brackets 77supportingly connected to the motor nose portions.

In the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 5-7,elements similar to those of the first embodiment are designated by thesame reference characters. This embodiment differs from that of FIGS.1-4 principally in the structure by Which side frames 11 areinterconnected and which form the pivot center for the bolster. Sideframe columns 21 are formed with transverse horizontal webs 81projecting inwardly longitudinally of the truck and webs 81 are formedwith upwardly directed frusto-conical portions 83, to the upper surfaceof which is secured an upwardly directed stud 85. A pair of crossties 87and 89 are formed with downwardly open inverted cups 90 at theiropposite ends for overlying receipt of diagonally oppositefrusto-conical portions 83 of the opposite side frames. Toroidalelastomeric cushions 91 are interposed between the opposing surfaces offrusto-conical portions 83 and cross-tie end cups 90 to support thecrossties on the side frames and permit some slight pivotal movements ofthe side frames with respect to the crossties about transverse andlongitudinal axes. For holding cross-ties 87 and 89 in assembledrelation with side frames 11, each frusto-conical portion 83 mounts anupwardly directed stud 85, which extends through a hole 95 of largerdiameter in the top of each cup 90, and an annular elastomeric pad 97surrounding stud 85 is compressed against the top surface of cup 90 by anut 99 and Washer 101 mounted on the stud. With this arrangement, allnecessary pivoting between the side frames and cross-ties is permitted,without any metal-to-metal contact and consequent wear.

The central portion 103 of cross-tie 87 is upwardly arched to pass overthe central portion 105 of cross-tie 89 with some vertical clearance,and both central portions are enlarged and are centrally verticallycylindrically `apertured as at 107 and 109 respectively. Apertures 107and 109 are vertically aligned and mount, by means of an elastomericbushing 55, a metal bearing sleeve S3 in which is pivotally receivedpivot boss 49 of bolster 51. For supporting traction motors M, brackets108 are connected respectively to cross-ties 87 and 89.

Operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 is similar to that of the firstembodiment, except that the differential longitudinal tilting of theside frames with respect to each other is accommodated by some diagonaltipping of the crossed diagonal cross-ties 87 and 89 relative to eachother permitted by the compressibility of elastomeric sleeve 55 `and bysome longitudinal and transverse pivoting movements between cross-ties87 and 89 and the side frames, permitted by the shear in the toroidalcushions 91.

In the third embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10,elements common to the first and/or second embodiments are designated bythe same reference characters. In this embodiment, instead of thecrossties of the previous embodiments, a pair of V-shaped (in plan)cross-ties 111 and 113 are formed at their opposite ends with invertedcups 90, Which are mounted on and connected to correspondingfrusto-conical projections 83 on side frame columns 21, in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 8. The central portions 11S and 117 of cross-ties111 and 113 respectively are enlarged and formed with verticalcylindrical apertures 119 and 121. Cross tie 111 is arched suilicientlyto permit its central portion 115 to overlap central portion 117 ofcross-tie 113, with some vertical clearance between the two centralportions, and with apertures 119 and 121 in vertical alignment toreceive elastomeric bushing 53, and bearing sleeve 55. For assuringcontinued vertical separation between central portions 115 and 117, anannular elastomeric pad 123 may be interposed between the opposinghorizontal facesof cross-tie central portions 115 and 117. Bolster boss49 is pivotally received in bearing sleeve 55, as in the previousembodiments, and the bolster is similarly supported on the side frames.

In operation, the truck illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 is similar tothose of the previously illustrated and described embodiments, exceptfor the action of the crossties 111 and 113. As side frames 11 tiltlongitudinally with respect to each other, they pivot slightly abouttheir connections to cross-ties 111 and 113, 0n transverse andlongitudinal axes and the cross-ties are permitted to tilt transverselyof the truck with respect to each other and to bolster pivot boss 49 bythe compressibility of elastomeric bushing 55 and annular pad 123.

In the fourth embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 11 and12, elements common to the above-disclosed embodiments are designated bythe same reference characters. In general, this embodiment resemblesthat of FIGS. 1-4 except that the transverse members or crossties 125are formed at their ends with inverted cup-shaped terminals 90 overlyingthe side frame bottom chords 19, as illustrated in FIG. 8, and one endof each cross-tie is vertically bifurcated to provide a second invertedcupshaped terminal 90a overlying one of the side frame top chords 17,such that the cross-ties 125 may be connected respectively, in themanner shown in FIG. 8, to opposite side frames at vertically spacedpoints through cup-like terminals 90a and to the other side frame at asingle point through cup-like terminals 90.

Operation of this embodiment is similar to that of FIGS. 1-4 except thatin the present embodiment the vertical spacing of the end connections ofthe cross-ties respectively to opposite side frames opposes tilting ofthe side frame transversely and thus resists braking torque applied tothe side frames by package brake units B mounted on the side frames andequipped with wheel-tread engaging brake shoes. The single connection ofeach of the cross-ties 12S to the other side frames permits alltransverse and longitudinal tilting required for equalization.

The details of the trucks disclosed herein may be varied substantiallywithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive useof such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims iscontemplated.

What I claim is:

1. A railway vehicle truck comprising a pair of wheeled axles, separatetransversely spaced longitudinally extending side frames supported attheir ends on said axles, a pair of separate rigid continuous transversemembers pivotally connected respectively at their opposite ends to saidside frames for independent movement of each respectively aboutlongitudinal and transverse axes with respect to at least one of saidside frames, the connections of said transverse members to said sideframes being spaced apart longitudinally of said side frames, both saidtransverse members being formed with cooperating central apertures, aload-supporting bolster swivelly supported on said side frames andhaving a central vertical pivot boss pivotally received in saidcooperating apertures, there being means between said apertures and saidboss to permit slight vertical tilting of said transverse members withrespect to each other while preventing substantial relative movements ofsaid transverse members in the horizontal plane whereby the cooperatingcentral apertures and the connections of said transverse members to saidside frames define horizontally rigid triangles preventing substantialmovements in the horizontal plane of said side frames with respect toeach other.

2. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 in which said meansbetween said apertures and boss cornprises a resilient bushing.

3. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 including verticallyresilient means supporting said bolster on said side frames.

4. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 wherein each said sideframe has transversely spaced vertical webs and said transverse membershave end portions disposed between said side frame webs, said webs andsaid end portions having aligned transverse openings, a pin passingthrough said aligned openings, said end portion opening beingsubstantially larger than said pin, and a bushing of elastomericmaterial surrounding said pin within said end portion opening.

5. A railway vehicle track according to claim 1 including substantiallyupright conical surfaces on said side frames, the end portions of saidtransverse members being formed with mating conical recesses, an annulusof elastomeric material being compressed between each of said conicalsurfaces and recesses.

6. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 5 including means securingsaid end portions to said side frames to prevent vertical separationtherebetween.

7. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 including separatemotors individually drivingly connected to each of said axles and meanssupporting each said motors individually from one of said transversemembers.

S. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 wherein said side framesare of truss shape having spaced upper Iand lower chords and a pair ofupright columns connecting said chords between said axles, theconnections of said transverse members to said side frames beingeffected through said columns.

9. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 wherein each of saidtransverse members is connected to the opposite side frames at pointscorrespondingly disposed longitudinally of said side frames.

10. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 9 wherein said transversemembers are parallel to each other and their central apertures are ofsubstantially semicylindrical shape formed in their opposing transversesurfaces.

11. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 10 wherein each said sideframe has transversely spaced vertical webs, and said transverse membershave their terminals bent to extend longitudinally of the truck betweensaid side yframe webs, said webs and said ter minals having alignedtransverse openings, a pin passing through said aligned openings, saidterminal openings being substantially larger than said pin, and abushing of elastomeric material surrounding each said pin within eachsaid terminal opening.

12. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 10 including acylindrical metal sleeve surrounding said bolster boss and positionedwithin said resilient bushing means.

13. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 12. wherein said sleeveis formed with a radial flange at its upper end overlying the uppersurfaces of said transverse members.

14. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 wherein said transversemembers have central portions in hrespectively overlying and underlyingrelation with each ot er.

15. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 14 in which the centralportions of said transverse members are offset toward each otherlongitudinally of the truck from their end portions.

16. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 15 in which saidtransverse members are of V-shape in plan.

17. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 14 in which saidcooperating apertures are each of vertical cylindrical shape and are invertical alignment with each other.

18. .A railway vehicle truck according to claim 17 wheiein each of saidtransverse members is connected to the opposite side frames at pointsdisposed diagonallv of the truck with respect to each other. i

19. .A railway vehicle truck according to claim 17 wherein saidtransverse members cross each other substantially at the center of thetruck. 20. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 1 wherein said.transverse members are connected at one end respectively to oppositeside frames at points spaced apart vertically, and at their other end tothe other side frames at a single point.

21. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 20 wherein said sidefra-mes are trusses having vertically spacedtupperb and lower chords,said vertically spaced connec ions eing connected res ecti yand lowerchords. p Vely to sald upper 22. A railway vehicle truck according toclaim 21 in which said connections comprise su-bstantially uprightconical surfaces on said side frame chords, the extremities of saidtransverse members being formed with mating conical recesses, an annulusof elastomeric material being compressed between each of said conicalsurfaces and recesses, and means resiliently retaining said matingconical surfaces and recesses in assembled relation.

23. A railway vehicle truck according to claim 20 wherein each of saidtransverse members is connected to opposite side frames at pointscorrespondingly disposed longitudinally of the truck and said transverselmembers are generally parallel to each other with their 7 8 centralapertures substantially semicylindrical and formed FOREIGN PATENTS intheir OPPOSmg suffas- 223,377 7/1959 Australia.

References Cited ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 5 HOWARD BELTRAN, Assistant Examiner 3,697 8/ 1844 Davenport10S-208 XR 1,772,928 8/1930 Kijlsrra 10s-182 U.s. c1. XR. 2,877,7193/1959 Lich 10s-199 XR 2,908,230 10/1959 Dean 10s-199 XR10S-T82197199200'2081208'2 2,925,790 2/1960 Lich 10s-199 XR 10

